Submerged surface cleaning apparatus



March 9, 1965 1-. E. MAUSHUND SUBMERGED SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS FiledJuly 19, 1962 INVENTOR THOMAS E. MAUSHUND United States Patent O3,172,415 SUBMERGED SURFACE QLEANING APPARATUS Thomas E. Mauslnmd,1.5731 E. El Soneto Drive, Whittier, Qalif. Filed Italy 19, 19 62, Ser.No. 211,019 6 Claims. (ill. 134--93) This invention relates generally toan underwater cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a device forretaining a cleaning solution directly in contact with a submergedsurface of a fluid container such as a swimming pool which has algae,calcium deposits or stains so that they may be removed without drainingthe pool.

It is common practice in cleaning a swimming pool which has collectedalgae and calcium deposits on the walls and bottom, to first drain itand then wash and flush it down with a muriatic acid solution, or toplace a small cloth bag of calcium hypochloride over the algae spots fora period of 24 hours.

Briefly and in general terms the present invention provides a bell whichintegrally embodies means for supporting a capsule containing anappropriate cleaning substance. When punctured before submergence, thecapsule will provide a strong cleaning solution inside the bell, whichis placed directly over the spot or stain to be removed.

The bell is pressed to the wall or floor by removable handle means andis held by suction until removed, thus keeping the strong cleaningsolution confined and in direct contact with the algae spot or stain.Following installation of the bell over the site to be cleaned, thehandle can be removed, to allow the pool to be used.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved means for removing algae spots, calcium deposits, andstains from the submerged floor and wall surfaces of a fluid container,without draining the same.

It is another object to provide a new and improved means for cleaningsubmerged surfaces of a swimming pool without preventing use of the poolduring the cleaning operation.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description thereof, referencebeing made to the figures of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial plan view illustrating a presently preferred formof the acid cleaning apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the acid cleaningapparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, following its installation andremoval of the handle; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevation view lookingtoward the adapter which connects the cleaning apparatus to alightweight pole; FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view looking upward into thecleaning apparatus of FIGURES 1 and 2; and FIGURE 5 is a fragmentaryview of the pivot neck connection, and the pivot neck extension portionof the invention showing means for securing the lightweight pole to thecleaning apparatus.

Referring now in detail to FIGURES 1 through 5, the cleaning apparatuscomprises a molded cup of rubber or like flexible material indicatedgenerally at 1. The cup 1 is substantially circular in shape andprovides a pivot neck connection 7 to which an adapter 8 is removablysecured. A lightweight pole 9 is secured to the adapter 8 which, inturn, is inserted in a slotted pivot neck extension 10 and revolved aquarter turn, and is held in place by a spring 11; this allows the pole9 to be removed from 3,172,4l5 Patented Mar. 9, 1965 the pivot neckextension 10 after the cleaning apparatus is placed in contact with aspot or stain 3, which is to be removed from a submerged surface 2.

The cup 1 has a cavity e molded or otherwise integrally embodied by itsinner face and providing a plurality of fingers 4 to hold a gelatinouscapsule 5 containing an acid or other appropriate cleaning substance inplace until the cup 1 has been installed over the spot or stain 3.

The construction thus provided is easy to produce and use, whereas itserves to effect the thorough cleaning of algae spots, calcium depositsand stains from swimming pools while filled with water.

The cup 1 may, of course, be oval in form or have other suitable shapes.In view thereof, it should be understood that the particular embodimentof the invention shown in the drawing and described above is intended tobe illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a cleaning apparatus, the combination comprising: flexible cupmeans defining a suction chamber; and flexible means integrally formedwith said cup means for supporting within said suction chamber acontainer of a cleaning substance.

2. Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces in a fluid container,comprising: flexible cup means having inner and outer faces; andflexible finger means integral with and extending from said inner facefor grasping and supporting a container of a cleaning substance.

3. Cleaning apparatus, comprising: a flexible cup having an inner faceand a cavity within said inner face; and flexible finger means integralwith said cup and surrounding said cavity for grasping a container of acleaning substance extending into said cavity.

4. A device for cleaning submerged surfaces, comprising: a flexible cuphaving an inner face defining a suction chamber, said inner face havinga centrally disposed cavity therein; and flexible finger meansintegrally formed with said cup and surrounding said cavity for graspinga capsule of a cleaning substance extending into said cavity.

5. In a cleaning apparatus, the combination comprising: flexible cupmeans; flexible means integrally formed with said cup means forsupporting from the inner face thereof a container of a cleaningsubstance; and detachable handle means coupled to said cup means.

6. A cleaning apparatus, comprising: flexible cup means having inner andouter faces; flexible finger means integral with and extending from saidinner face for grasping a container of a cleaning substance; a pivotalcoupling extending from said outer face of said flexible cup means; andelongated handle means for detachably engaging said pivotal coupling.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 200,902 3/78 Eddy68-2l9 977,005 11/10 Haddock. 1,854,235 4/32 Stoddard 25293 2,561,0257/51 Le Febvre 15144 2,840,840 7/58 Yamen 15l44 X 3,003,169 10/61Forrester 15l.7 3,080,590 3/63 Mullinix l51.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 26,553 of 1905 Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. GEORGE J. NORTH, Examiner

1. IN A CLEANING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: FLEXIBLE CUPMEANS DEFINING A SUCTION CHAMBER; AND